Last Thursday September 8th, 2011, San Diegans experienced a blackout so significant it seemed surreal. Any glimpse of light was from the sun, phone lines were dead, gas stations and grocery stores were shut down. There was a scramble for batteries, flashlights and candles.
This Great Blackout of 2011 was a widespread power outage that occurred throughout parts of Southern California, 
western Arizona, and northern Baja California and Sinaloa, Mexico at about 3:38 PM PDT. It was the largest power failure in California history. The blackout left more than 5 million people without power, including 1.4 million customers in San Diego County.
I was one of them. My first encounter with the blackout occurred when I noticed the traffic signals were not operating. Then I stopped at a gas station, but the gas pumps were not working. I headed home only to find all the power was out in our entire neighborhood. To keep informed, I listened to the KOGO news station on my battery operated radio. I have to applaud KOGO as they provided excellent coverage of the power outage. I heard the continuing reports of how massive this blackout had become and that power may be out for days. 
My plans become more complex as I was preparing to fly to New York City (See Day 190). But the airports security screening machines were not operational and flights were being canceled for outbound flights.
About 5 hours into the blackout, I took a moment to write down my thoughts, in the dark, holding a flashlight. Here is what I wrote:
As I am writing this, I am in the dark, literally. I wonder why and how this happened. The traffic jams, the gas shortages, this is a wake up call of what California would be like without electricity following something like a major earthquake. My phone has been down a few times and I feel completely vulnerable. I realize that I take for granted being able to call my family and friends. Facebook and Twitter have provided amazing updates. For the first time, in a long time, I looked up and admired the beauty of the night sky full of stars gleaming so bright accompanied by a moon that is a natural flashlight for the world at night. I am so lucky and absolutely blessed. I realize how grateful I am for what I do have in my life.
About 1 hour later after I wrote this, the power came back on. I could hear my neighbors cheering and honking horns. All is well. Or is it? Are we really going to change? Or continue to live in the dark, without any sense of purpose of what we really bring to this world. The choice is yours. Life is too short. Anything can happen, as this blackout was a uncomfortable reminder. I already made my mind up that I will do everything in my power to be a personal reminder to people of how important living a life of gratitude can be in your life.
What are you going to do?
